An interview that made him visibly uncomfortable, causing irritation and vague answers, was given by Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou regarding his abstention from a vote on the return of children abducted by Russians in Ukraine.

The questions were posed by journalist Caolan Robertson, who posted the interview on X with the comment, “The masks have fallen,” adding that Fidias Panayiotou “got angry” at the questions.

The interview began with the journalist asking the Cypriot MEP, “Who paid for your trip to Russia?” The journalist further noted that a former associate of Panayiotou—who helped him get elected—has expressed regret, claiming the MEP acts like a “Russian agent.”

“You’ve spoken to the people who hate me most in Cyprus,” Panayiotou initially replied, with the journalist pressing him, saying, “The evidence is what you’ve posted on social media, which has been reshared by Kremlin-aligned accounts. Do you understand what I’m saying? You’re an asset because you echo their propaganda.”

“You’re spreading lies from a country that has invaded another,” the journalist accused Panayiotou, who attempted to deflect by bringing up the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

“With Turkey, we’re trying to resolve the issue through dialogue. That’s the right approach. First stop the war, then diplomacy can begin,” said Panayiotou, to which the journalist responded, “Going to Russia is not diplomacy.”

“I don’t care about Turkey, you’re trying to derail the conversation and avoid the questions,” the journalist insisted, with Panayiotou replying, “I like this—it’s beautiful—it’s your right to attack me. That’s democracy, to have opposing views. Democracy is citizens’ freedom to decide. Seventy percent of Cypriots voted for me and want normalized relations with Russia. Is it propaganda to try to restore diplomacy?”

Fidias has been amplifying insane Kremlin propaganda for months, so I confronted him.

🚨 He said abducted Ukranian children are happy in russia

🚨 He refused to answer why he is putting out lies

He got angry

This is a mask off moment pic.twitter.com/3QjERhq3Aq

— Caolan (@CaolanRob) May 21, 2025

End of Segment

“Why haven’t you been to Ukraine if you’re defending democracy?” Caolan Robertson pressed, to which Panayiotou replied, “I want to, but to be honest, I’m afraid, because what I post might make some people angry.”

Doubling down on the claim that “there are much deeper issues” behind Russia’s invasion, Panayiotou stated, “Ukraine wants to join NATO, and Russia sees that as an existential threat. I believe this is a U.S.-led war,” prompting the journalist to respond, “That’s Russian garbage.”

“Just because I share an opinion with something the Kremlin says, you can believe whatever you want,” said the Cypriot MEP, while the journalist continued his line of questioning: “In Ukraine, things are simple: children are abducted, homes are bombed, there’s an invasion. You can’t even say who’s responsible.”

“How do you propose we end this? Your approach isn’t working,” Panayiotou replied.

Then, when asked, “Why are you supporting the abduction of children from Ukraine?” referencing his refusal to support the related resolution in the European Parliament, Panayiotou said, “I agree they should return. I did research. They gave us a report from Zelensky’s website and a Yale study funded by the Biden administration. I felt they weren’t credible. I abstained. Forty others did too—are they all assets?”

Fidias Panayiotou even went so far as to claim that some of the abducted children “might not want to return,” prompting the remark, “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I’ve done more research than most MEPs because I’m independent and don’t have a party telling me how to vote. That week we voted on 500 items, and we spent only 1–2 hours discussing this topic. I have the right to decide with limited time and resources. I believe what I believe based on the information I have. We’re both just doing our jobs—fair enough,” Panayiotou concluded.